The Korea Corporate Reputation Research Institute released its March 2026 brand reputation rankings for girl groups, analyzing 45,924,168 pieces of brand-related big data collected from February 8 to March 8, 2026. Metrics included participation, media coverage, communication, and community activity. Compared to February, the total big data increased by 1.18%, signaling growing public and media engagement in K-pop.
IVE claimed the top spot with a brand reputation index of 6,690,379, marking a 28.90% increase from February’s 5,190,460. The group’s breakdown included a participation score of 177,820, media score of 996,989, communication score of 2,768,156, and community score of 2,747,414. Their recent activities, particularly the release of their second full-length album REVIVE+ featuring double title tracks “BLACKHOLE” and “BANG BANG” alongside member solo tracks, drove strong online engagement and media attention. Keyword analysis highlighted terms such as “all-kill,” “lovely,” and “prove,” with a positive sentiment ratio of 93.04%.
BLACKPINK, TWICE, KiiiKiii, and ILLIT Highlight March 2026 Top Girl Groups Rankings
Following IVE, BLACKPINK ranked second with a 6,493,036 index, reflecting a 33.55% increase from February, while TWICE tied for third with the same index and growth rate. Rookie group KiiiKiii and ILLIT rounded out the top five with indices of 2,429,041 and 2,045,324, respectively.
The broader Top 30 included prominent groups such as Red Velvet, aespa, OH MY GIRL, Apink, LE SSERAFIM, (G)I-DLE, MAMAMOO, BABYMONSTER, fromis_9, H1-KEY, NMIXX, STAYC, ITZY, Kep1er, Girls’ Generation, and f(x).
Koo Chang Hwan, director of the institute, noted that the rankings reflect public perception, consumer interest, and media attention trends, emphasizing the increasing influence of online engagement in shaping girl group reputations. The analysis offers a comprehensive snapshot of fan interaction and sentiment, highlighting which groups are currently leading the K-pop conversation.
